ABSTRACT
In every large American seaport, thousands of people work for hundreds of companies or agencies engaged in scores of different port-related services. These people belong to the port community and, most often, quietly mind their own businesses. Public sector interests in waterfront and near-waterfront properties are not restricted to military facilities and the public terminal operations. Many federal government agencies, such as the Coast Guard, Army Corps of Engineers, Customs and Immigration have traditionally sought locations close to the waterfront in seaport cities. Various cargo-related services must also be ordered for the visiting commercial vessel. It has been mentioned that the two main categories of commercial seaport customers are the transport carriers and the commodity shippers. Since the port authority is an organizational entity and is staffed by personnel, directors, and commissioners who are empowered decision makers, this component group of the port community is very important and influential.
